Rain returns to drought-stricken Southeast with severe storms possible through Tuesday

Rain is returning to parts of the drought-stricken Southeast as a cold front moves through the region, but forecasters are also warning of locally heavy downpours, damaging wind gusts and isolated severe storms through Tuesday.

FOX Weather said a final round of severe storms is expected to affect the Gulf and Southeast coasts through Tuesday afternoon, with a renewed flash-flood threat along the Interstate 10 corridor after weekend severe weather.

The National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center issued a marginal excessive-rainfall risk for parts of Florida on May 12. The agency said some of the rainfall will be beneficial in areas dealing with ongoing drought.

Local National Weather Service offices are also flagging the storm threat. NWS Jacksonville said strong to isolated severe thunderstorms are possible Tuesday in northeast and north-central Florida, with gusty downburst winds of 40 to 60 mph, frequent lightning, locally heavy rain and some hail.

In Louisiana and neighboring parts of the Gulf Coast, the National Weather Service office in New Orleans/Baton Rouge said showers and thunderstorms may bring locally heavy rainfall, which could also help drought-stricken areas.

What to watch

Forecasters will be tracking how far east and south the heaviest rain band shifts before the system weakens. Any flash flood warnings or severe thunderstorm warnings later in the day would be the next key signal for the most affected areas.